The mother and father of Stephen Lawrence, Doreen and Neville, spoke outside the Old Bailey (Picture: EPA)

But Mrs Lawrence warned police and other authorities not to use the convictions as evidence that racial discrimination in Britain was a thing of the past.

âThe fact is that racism and racist attacks are still happening in this country and the police should not use my sonâs name to say that we can move on,â she said outside the Old Bailey.

âThese verdicts will not bring my son back.

âHow can I celebrate when I know that this day could have come 18 years ago if the police who were meant to find my sonâs killers had not failed so miserably to do so?â

Mrs Lawrence described the two decades of âgrief and uncertaintyâ the family had endured.

She also described Stephen as âa shining example of what any parent would want in a childâ. She said: âI miss him with a passion. Hopefully, now, he can rest in peace.â

Mr Lawrence, who was in court despite moving back to his birthplace Jamaica after splitting from Mrs Lawrence, said he had ânot been able to restâ since his son was knifed to death in south-east London in 1993.

âI am therefore full of joy and relief that today, finally, two of my sonâs killers have been convicted of his murder,â he said in a statement read by his solicitor Jocelyn Cockburn outside court.

âThey will be sent to prison and face the consequence of their actions.â

Mr and Mrs Lawrence, who set up a charity in memory of their son, received OBEs in 2003.